The Department
of Biology at the University of Copenhagen invites applications for a
tenure-track assistant professorship in Vertebrate Social Behaviour. The
position is to be filled by 1 October 2018 or as soon as possible thereafter,
subject to negotiation.

The Department of Biology is among the largest Departments of the University of Copenhagen. It
employs about 475 academic and technical staff and hosts research programmes
and teaching curricula that cover all major biological sub-disciplines. University
rankings typically place the field of biology/biochemistry at the University of
Copenhagen first in Denmark and among the top 30 universities internationally. In
addition to a PhD-programme, three BSc study programmes (biology, biochemistry,
molecular biomedicine) and four MSc study programmes (biology, biochemistry,
molecular biomedicine, bioinformatics) engage close to 2000 students.

The new position will be embedded in
the Section for Ecology & Evolution.
The Section’s research addresses fundamental
questions about the organizational principles and functional history of life
and covers population and community ecology, evolutionary biology and animal
behavior, including the interfaces between these fields. Research projects are
primarily inspired by fundamental theoretical concepts and have a sound basis
in organismal natural history without a-priori preference for specific habitats
or ecosystems.

The Section has state-of-the-art
facilities, including DNA-laboratories, a sound analysis laboratory, temperature
controlled rearing rooms, aquaria rooms, an animal stable and outdoor aviaries.
The section has also access to the 160 ha Strødam Reserve about 40 km north of
the University campus, consisting of a mixed deciduous forest closed to the
public. Section staff currently includes four full professors, five Associate
Professors, five technicians, and more than 10 post docs and PhD students that enjoy
an informal, trusting and collaborative working atmosphere. The Section is
supported by substantial external funding.

Description of the position

The appointee is expected to establish an externally funded research
programme in vertebrate social behaviour, and to develop a network of national
and international collaborations in line with the Section’s tradition of
fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. She/he is expected to work with basic aspects of vertebrate social
behavior, combine field work and experimental approaches, and have
interdisciplinary interests that could lead to collaboration with the section’s
complementary research programmes in ecology, evolutionary biology,
neurobiology, genomics and/or microbial symbioses. Duties also include teaching and
supervision of students at the undergraduate/graduate levels, as well as some
management tasks requested by the Department.

Qualifications/profile

Applicants should have a scientific background within behavioral ecology or ethology. The position requires an increasing publication
trajectory in high-level, international, peer-reviewed ISI journals as well as
some personal research grants or
a designated (by name) part of major grants. Documented university level
experience in delivering high-quality undergraduate/graduate teaching will be
an advantage. If not already holding formal pedagogical qualifications,
candidates are required to obtain pedagogical training equivalent to the
University of Copenhagen teacher training programme for Assistant Professors.

Assessment of applicants will
primarily consider their level of documented, original scientific production at
an international level, including contributions to developments in their field,
as well as their documented teaching qualifications. Out-reach qualifications
and ability to attract external funding will also be considered.

Terms of employment

The position is open from 1 October 2018 or as soon as
possible thereafter.

The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic
Staff. Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement
between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of
Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Commencing salary for tenure
tracks is currently DKK 413.717 including
annual supplement (+ pension up to DKK 70.746). Negotiation for salary supplement is possible.

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity
of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates
regardless of personal background.

The tenure-track programme

An assigned mentor will provide the tenure-track
assistant professor with guidance related to career development, other academic
topics and administrative procedures.

Performance of the tenure-track assistant professor will be followed via
internal yearly evaluations and a mid-term and final international evaluation
by an assessment committee. If the ‘final appraisal’ is positive you will be
promoted as associate professor. Performance and progression towards the
criteria below will be evaluated with due consideration of differences between
research fields.

Criteria for promotion

After a 6-year tenure-track period tenure-track
assistant professors are expected to meet the following criteria:

A strong
publication track record within the specific field of research, including
a significant number of corresponding authorships and at least some
publications in high-ranked
journals based on work carried out during the tenure-track period

Establishment
of a strong and internationally competitive research group demonstrating
clear independence of former supervisors/mentors, or/and major contributions to the development of an existing
research group demonstrating an ability to collaborate within the research
group

Completed http://www.ind.ku.dk/english/course_overview/up/ and established a teaching portfolio via
participation in teaching, including preparation and development of
departmental courses

Selected qualified
candidates will be invited to visit the Section for Ecology & Evolution to meet
with the faculty and Head of Department, and to give a research presentation.
The visits are expected to take place in week 32.